In 1969, the auction changed its name to the Toronto Auto Auctions and moved to a 10-acre site on Wolfedale Road. At that time, the new facility was the largest and most modern auction in Canada, boasting three selling lanes. In addition, Homer became very active in the industry and, in 1978, was elected President of the National Auto Auction. The NAAA today represents 269 members across North America who process more than 16 million vehicles valued at more than $70 billion.
In 1983, the Toronto Auto Auction became the 16th auction purchased by Manheim Auctions of Pennsylvania. Homer and Ruth were retained to manage the auction and felt the time was right to get married and make TAA a true ‘mom and pop’ operation.
Homer and Ruth were the life-blood of the auction, and, with their hard working staff (some of whom started their auction careers at Dixie Arena in 1952), are still part of the TAA today.
The auction continued to grow and became the first to conduct factory sales (GM, Ford and Chrysler) in Canada. Sadly, in December of 1986, Homer passed away suddenly. Homer was well liked and respected in the industry, and, as a result, his funeral was standing room only.
Ruth Hart-Stephens was left to manage the auction on her own and the business continued to grow. In 1989, TAA moved to a new seven-lane, 64-acre site in Milton, Ontario. Today, the auction sits on more than 200 acres and employs 750 people who process more than 3,500 cars weekly. Ruth, who originally lived in Orchard Heights, across from Dixie Plaza, recalls the early days in 1952 when she needed help. She decided to ask some of her bridge club friends. “Some of them are still with me today,” she said. “I also remember having to pick up my children after school and bring them with me to Dixie Arena. They were really what you would call ‘rink rats’. There were no after school programs in those days.”
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